(Photo courtesy of Dry Canyon Community Art Center)
The Dry Canyon Community Art Center (DCCAC) opened its doors just in time for the 2025 Christmas season, then braced for the slowdown to come in the winter of 2026. Luckily, the excitement of a nonprofit gallery partially built through donations and staffed by volunteers has endured through its first nine months and does not seem to be relenting any time soon. The gallery, classrooms and gathering spaces at 415 SW Sixth Street in Redmond are bustling with activity, and bracing for more growth coming soon.
To date, the gallery has hosted five exhibitions showcasing a large variety of local artists’ work, with walls constantly packed with art as well as sculptures grabbing attention throughout the space. The featured artist display changes monthly and the gift gallery is an ever-revolving array of original items.
But as the name “Community Art Center” rather than “gallery” implies, the goal of the space does not stop at the art on display. At the far end of the gallery, you can see into the windows of two classrooms. Dry Canyon Art Association’s mission is to provide a place where artists and aspiring artists can learn and expand their craft. Art educators from around Central Oregon have already conducted classes in watercolor, glass, ceramics, jewelry making and more in those two classrooms, and after the upcoming build-out of a further 1,300 square feet of space behind the current Art Center, there will be even more space to learn and create.
Plans for the new square footage include two new large classrooms, needed storage, and a ceramics workshop with kilns. Construction of the area will begin in September and is planned to conclude in December, approximately one year since the Art Center opened. As the space can be reached through the alley behind the building, the construction should not have much of a negative impact on the current gallery, other than the occasional hammer or three.
The new space is needed to really push beyond the limits of a gallery and allow the Art Center to become more of a hub for the Redmond art community. As Mel Archer, past board chair and current exhibition team member, put it, more art classes will have a broad appeal to residents of the community and will pair local art teachers with interested students.
Dry Canyon Arts Association’s board chair, Jay Lowndes, says the expanded footprint will give DCCAC much more flexibility. “It will allow the center to offer more programming, accommodate more artists and participants, and potentially create opportunities that simply aren’t possible within the current space.” About this next phase of growth for the Art Center, Lowndes said, “DCCAC isn’t just adding square footage; it’s adding capacity for the community.”
The gallery will remain open during construction. First Friday Art Walks are always a good time to check in on what is new at the gallery, but gallery volunteers are happy to welcome visitors any time the gallery is open. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 11am-6pm and Friday and Saturday from 11am-7pm. The gallery is closed Sundays and Mondays.
